Heavy snow and rain expected as low pressure approaches

Heavy snow and rain are forecast to pound the peninsula on Monday as a low-pressure air mass approaches.

People with umbrellas pass through Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul as rain falls on Jan. 21. [YONHAP]

Heavy snow and rain are forecast to pound the peninsula on Monday as a low-pressure air mass approaches.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the rain was expected to expand from the Jeju and Jeolla regions on Sunday night to the rest of the country by Monday. The rain clouds are brought as the low-pressure air mass from inland China approaches the peninsula.

The southern regions will be particularly affected by the low pressure. The Jeolla region will see 20 to 50 millimeters (0.7 to 1.9 inches) of rain, and the Gyeongsang region will see 20 to 60 millimeters. Areas around Mount Halla in Jeju may see over 80 millimeters of rain.

Jeju is expected to experience around 20 to 60 millimeters of rain from Sunday through Tuesday morning.

Heavy snow will arrive in the Yeongdong region of Gangwon and the east coast of North Gyeongsang.

The Yeongdong region of Gangwon includes the coastal areas of Goseong and Yangyang counties and the cities of Sokcho, Gangneung, Donghae, Samcheok and Taebaek.

Mountainous parts of Gangwon will see around 10 to 20 centimeters (3.9 to 7.8 inches) of snow, with some areas experiencing over 30 centimeters of snowfall.

The KMA warned the public to be wary of property damage as heavy snow is expected to pile up, particularly in mountainous regions of Gangwon that have recently experienced heavy snow.

According to the KMA, snow and rain will fall in the capital during the morning rush hour. Snow will continue to fall during the evening rush hour, causing traffic chaos.

The capital will likely see around 1 to 3 millimeters of snow and less than 5 millimeters of precipitation.

The mercury will likely return to late winter annual temperatures as the snow and rain arrive. Morning lows in the capital will be around 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit), with midday highs at 6 degrees Celsius, over 5 degrees lower than Sunday.

Sunday marked the warmest Ipchun, or the onset of spring, with average midday high temperatures across the nation rising to around 10 degrees Celsius.

In Seoul, the mercury rose to as high as 12.2 degrees Celsius, marking the warmest Ipchun since 1973, when records began.

From Monday through Tuesday morning, Seoul and Incheon will see around 1 to 3 centimeters of snow, while parts of Gyeonggi will see up to 5 centimeters of snow.

The nation is expected to see mostly clear and warm days during Seollal, or the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls from Friday through Monday this year.

BY CHUN KWON-PIL AND CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]